Exam skills: 5 tips about building vocabulary

Noticing, remembering and using new vocabulary is important, but can be difficult. Hopefully we can help you. Watch this video to find out five top tips to help you build your vocabulary - then afterwards visit our website and test your understanding in our quiz.

Transcript
Rob
Noticing, remembering and using new vocabulary is important, but can be difficult. Hopefully we can help you…

Start by asking yourself how you learn new vocabulary:

When you hear or see a new word in a foreign language, what do you do to make sure that you remember it later? This teacher has some useful advice…

Teacher
"One way I suggest students record vocabulary is to write it down either in a notebook, or on a tablet or on their laptops that way they can look back at the words later and I also find it helps them to remember new vocabulary."

So our first tip is to write down new words and phrases that you hear – and look back at them later. How about when you discover that you don’t have a word in English to say what you want. What does this student do?

Student
"I choose a few useful words or phrases in my own language - the ones I use all the time and would like to say - and find out what the words or expressions are in English. Then I try working them into my conversations. But I have found that literal translations don't always work!"

Rob
So there's a good tip – look at the useful words and phrases you use in your language and then find out the English equivalent. Remember to record it too!

Another useful way to increase your vocabulary might be to use a dictionary either an old fashioned paper one or an online one.

Even though it might feel scary, it is very important that you use the new vocabulary, otherwise you will forget it. In the beginning you could try out new words with your friends. Later you can take a risk and use your new words in other situations. Don't worry; it’s OK to make mistakes. So remember that's notice, remember and use your vocabulary.

Don't be shy – start building your vocabulary today. Good luck!

[rabergeo]

Thanks BBC learning English actually I already use that method to keep phrases and words in mind and hopefully it has worked till now .

[tammytsang]

Great learning tips for students. Using the new words more often can reinforce our memories too.

[antarbo]

yeah good topic, i have problem of using words in the right context, it happened to me many times, when i come to express an idea or express something sometimes i don't find the right word even though i knew that word before.
anyway, Thank you very much for your effoerts to help us keep going don't stop

[salemhamrah]

thank you bbc learning, such important tips are very helpful .

[mezominato]

Thank tips will increase our vocabulary

[ignacioianniello]

What I've noticed is that the dictionary page shown is an American English one (phonetic transcriptions in IPA include "r" after the first "e") BBC, thou shalt not forget British English! Cheers!

[singh]

i google words or phrases. take a screenshot n keep dem in my gallery n hv luk at dem whnever i feel lyk. has hlpd me alot.

[diardanoraihan]

I think it's useful not only write the new word on the notes, but
also, try to figure out the synonyms and build the sentence with it.

[nawarnawar]

Hi .
Building vocabulary is something very important but there are tons of them that are not being used all the time or rarely used or old fashioned.
As a non-native speaker how can I know what to use or what to learn?
How many words does a native- speaker use in daily life?
Ok the answer could be somehow complicated because it depends on his/ her profession but is there a clear answer?
I spent the last year building my vocabulary and ended up using words that even native speakers don't use or even do't know their meanings.

[linhang]

Reading is the best way to learn vocab then you can write it down and learn how to use it . The day after, you must review these words again . Do it day day day . you will got a good result might be on reading you don 't need check vocab so much and studying without effort over .

[jayamohan]

Hopefully your these suggestions will be helpful for me.

[cherryblossoms]

I write them down, I take screenshots, and think to study them later. But that "later" never actually comes. I need to work on my habit of procrastinating